NFL Draft 2016: Updated Mock Draft Ahead of Conference Championships

DeForest Buckner is one of several top names making waves ahead of the draft.Ryan Kang/Associated Press

As much as everyone wants to see Tom Brady square off with Peyton Manning one more time and whether it's Cam Newton or Carson Palmer who seizes glory for the first time, it's really about the 2016 NFL draft now.

The majority of the league's franchises don't have a mind for any of the above because they have entire departments hard at work on breaking down the 2016 prospects and forming draft boards.

While it's early in the process, it's never a bad time to take a look at a mock draft. View it as a resource to stay up to date on current prospect stock and team need.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

1

Tennessee Titans

Laremy Tunsil

OT

Ole Miss

2

Cleveland Browns

Jared Goff

QB

California

3

San Diego Chargers

Ronnie Stanley

OT

Notre Dame

4

Dallas Cowboys

Joey Bosa

DL

Ohio State

5

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jalen Ramsey

CB/S

Florida State

6

Baltimore Ravens

Mackensie Alexander

CB

Clemson

7

San Francisco 49ers

Myles Jack

LB

UCLA

8

Miami Dolphins

Reggie Ragland

LB

Alabama

9

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DeForest Buckner

DE

Oregon

10

New York Giants

Leonard Floyd

LB

Georgia

11

Chicago Bears

Jack Conklin

OT

Michigan State

12

New Orleans Saints

Paxton Lynch

QB

Memphis

13

Philadelphia Eagles

Taylor Decker

OT

Ohio State

14

Oakland Raiders

Vernon Hargreaves III

CB

Florida

15

Los Angeles Rams

Carson Wentz

QB

North Dakota State

16

Detroit Lions

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

Ohio State

17

Atlanta Falcons

Shilique Calhoun

DE

Michigan State

18

Indianapolis Colts

A'Shawn Robinson

DT

Alabama

19

Buffalo Bills

Jarran Reed

DL

Alabama

20

New York Jets

Shaq Lawson

DE

Clemson

21

Washington

Laquon Treadwell

WR

Ole Miss

22

Houston Texans

Sheldon Rankins

DT

Louisville

23

Minnesota Vikings

Michael Thomas

WR

Ohio State

24

Cincinnati Bengals

Emmanuel Ogbah

DE

Oklahoma State

25

Pittsburgh Steelers

Kendall Fuller

CB

Virginia Tech

26

Seattle Seahawks

Noah Spence

DE/LB

Eastern Kentucky

27

Green Bay Packers

Robert Nkemdiche

DL

Ole Miss

28

Kansas City Chiefs

Corey Coleman

WR

Baylor

29

Denver Broncos

Jason Spriggs

OT

Indiana

30

Arizona Cardinals

Jaylon Smith

LB

Notre Dame

31

Carolina Panthers

Eli Apple

CB

Ohio State

Author's projections.

Pick Analysis

3. San Diego Chargers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

Ronnie Stanley has the upside to come off the board in the top five.Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Most might scoff at the idea of the San Diego Chargers passing on Joey Bosa, but exactly when will folks get tired of watching Philip Rivers and his running backs get assaulted?

Yes, the defense could use a running mate to pair with Melvin Ingram, but at some point in this franchise's existence, it's going to have to act like it cares about protecting Rivers, who took another 40 sacks this past season and careens toward the age of 35.

The best move in this scenario is Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, a prototypical tackle who has folks like ESPN's Kevin Weidl abuzz:

Kevin Weidl @KwEspn

ND OT Ronnie Stanley put on a clinic in pass pro vs OSU. Feet/balance easy mirror. Would have loved to seen him vs Bosa for a few snaps tho.

Not only does Stanley have experience at both tackle spots, he probably would have been the first offensive lineman off the board if he had entered the process last year.

Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil has something to say about that this year, but the difference between the two isn't so easy to define. Stanley might take a little longer to develop, but his physical dominance will catch more than a few pro rushers by surprise.

If the Chargers want to get serious about protecting the most important position of all, Stanley is the way to go.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

Buckner can set the edge and make a difference by pressuring quarterbacks.Ryan Kang/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

Sorry, but defensive ends who come in at 6'7" and 290 pounds aren't easy to find.

A team in need like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a hard time ignoring DeForest Buckner, arguably the draft's most physically gifted athlete. He's not the perfect 4-3 fit per se, but with so many organizations going with hybrid looks, odds are coach Dirk Koetter will find a way to fit Buckner into things.

He might not have a choice. The Buccaneers mustered 38 sacks last year, pretty putrid numbers for a line boasting Gerald McCoy on the inside. Jacquies Smith managed seven sacks on one edge, but William Gholston had just three on the other.

The Buccaneers need someone who can come in and set the edge and actually capitalize on the attention offenses have to throw at McCoy. Whether Buckner stands up or places his hand in the dirt to do so doesn't really matter.

Lack of pressure had the Buccaneers ranked 26th under a defensive-minded coach (Lovie Smith) while allowing 26.1 points per game. With Jameis Winston and the offense set, provided the team re-signs Doug Martin, the new regime in Tampa Bay will want to add more talent to the defense with Buckner.

11. Chicago Bears: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Jack Conklin can help a team in need right away.Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

The Chicago Bears used to be like San Diego when it came to protecting Jay Cutler.

Adding Kyle Long helped, but the other tackle spot still looks like a mess, and Cutler took 29 sacks while Chicago quarterbacks took 33 overall last year. All runners combined to total just 3.9 yards per carry.

One of the biggest issues was left tackle Charles Leno, who wound up ranked as the No. 53 tackle in the league last year per Pro Football Focus. And no, Jermon Bushrod behind him wouldn't have made much of a difference.

Chicago will have a hard time ignoring Michigan State's Jack Conklin, a 6'6", 325-pound mammoth of a tackle whose fundamentals seem to go unmatched in the class. As Bleacher Report's Matt Miller pointed out, he's been receiving top-20 hype for quite a while:

Matt Miller @nfldraftscout

Started to hear this last week. Former walk-on has a chance to go top 20 picks. https://t.co/izh7wLyPjr

Some of those who review prospects seem split on Conklin and where he should go, but all seem to admit the instant impact outweighs other factors.

Take CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, for example: "Some scouts are head-over-heels excited about his potential while others are simply lukewarm on his NFL future, but regardless, Conklin displays the 'steady-eddie' skill set and intangibles that should lead to a long pro career."

Conklin might not tout some of the upside of other tackles in the class, but the Bears look like one of those teams that wouldn't mind another potential run while an aging quarterback works through the final years of his career.

Maybe it's boring, but giving Cutler more time means more chances for Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and others to make plays.